Cork University Hospital chief says doctor training 'promotes subservience'

The head of one of the country’s largest teaching hospitals has criticised the ‘master and apprentice’ training model and culture in which young graduate doctors are being trained.

Tony McNamara, the chief executive officer of the Cork University Hospital Group, said the hospital doctor training environment — where graduate doctors are dependent on consultants to impart their skills — promotes subservience.

And in a relatively small medical pool in Ireland, where obtaining references is vital, the culture often places graduate doctors in a difficult position.